Electrical cooking device



Aug. 31, 1948. E. J. GEORGE 2,448,215

ELECTRICAL COOKING DEVICE Filed March 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I if; vE lllllllllllb 37 2, I m i i {5 20 [40 1/ I a! i Epyar lg ig Aug. 31, 1948. E. J. GEORGE ELECTRICAL COOKING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13. 1945 Aug. 31, 1948. E. J. GEORGE ELECTRICAL COOKING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 13, 1945 Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL COOKING DEVICE Edgar J. George, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application March 13, 1945, Serial No. 582,437

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an electrical cooking device, and has for its general object to provide a simple, practical electrical cooking device which includes both a so-called hot plate and a grill, whereby it may be used for frying and analogous purposes as well as a heater for containers and the like, and also for broiling, toasting and similar purposes.

According to the invention, the so-called hot plate and the grill are mounted at opposite sides of an electrical heating element for either simultaneous or selective use, and the unit comprised by said hot plate, said heating element and said grill is pivotally mounted upon a bracket for swinging movements between horizontal and vertical positions, especially to facilitate use of the device for 'broiling or toasting purposes. In this connection, a special object of the invention is to provide a bracket which may readily be engaged with the side wall of a pan to mount the device upon the pan in overlying relationship thereto, thus to utilize the pan not only as a support for the device, but also as a collection re ceptacle for grease, juices and the like which may drip from either the hot plate or the grill.

Another special object of the invention is to provide a grill and supporting means therefor embodying a construction whereby the grill may readily be adjusted toward and away from the electrical heating element for fast or slow broiling or toasting of an article of food carried by the same, and whereby the grill also may readily be rotated to expose either side of an article carried by the same to the heat of the electrical heating element.

The device may readily be removed from a pan upon which it is mounted to facilitate cleaning of both the device and the pan and to permit the pan to be used separately from the device. Moreover, the device includes electrical connecting means whereby it may readily be connected by an ordinary electrical extension cord to any ordinary electrical outlet, thus rendering the device portable for use at any desired location. At the same time, the said electrical connecting means preferably is in the form of blades carried by the bracket whereby the device may be connected directly with an outlet socket, and in this connection another special object of the invention is to provide an electric cooking stove with a pair of electrical outlet sockets, one located adjacent to the usual cooking well therein to be directly engaged by said blades when the device is operatively associated with said well, and the other being mounted upon the usual rear panel of the stove at a proper elevation above the stove top to be directly engaged by said blades when the device is supported upon the stove top, whereby, in either instance, there may be afforded, in effect, an

extra heating element, or burner for the stove to be used, as aforesaid, for either frying or general heating purposes or for broiling, toasting or similar purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in an electrical cooking device embodying the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of the top portion of an electric cooking stove having electrical outlet sockets located to be engaged by the electrical connecting blades of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing a device constructed in accordance with the invention supported upon the stove top.

Figure 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device. I

Figure 4 is a central, vertical section through the device showing the heating element thereof and its associated hot plate and grill disposed horizontally.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the heating element, hot plate and grill. disposed vertically.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section through the device; and

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the bracket constituting part of the device and of a portion of the side wall of a container with which said bracket is removably engageable.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the present device comprises a socalled hot plate, designated as [0; an electrical heating element, designated as l I, mounted at the under side of said hot plate It). and a grill, designated generally as [2, disposed at the under side of said heating element. It will further be observed that the hot plate Ill, the electrical heating element II and the grill l2 are connected together in the form of a single unit, and that this unit is pivotally mounted upon a bracket l3 for swinging movements with respect thereto.

The bracket l3 may be of any suitable construction to be removably mounted upon any suitable support for the purpose of removably mounting the entire device thereon. Preferably, however, a suitable pan [4 is employed as a support for the device and preferably the bracket I3 is formed for ready engagement with the side wall of said pan to mount the device thereon. Thus,

as best shown in Fig. '1 of the drawings, the bracket I3 may include a downwardly opening channel portion I5 at the top thereof to fit over the rim of .the panJ I, and a plate portion! 6 extending downwardly from the inner side ,of .said channel portion I5 to rest against the inner face of the said side wall of said pan. Accordingly,,, the entire device may readily be operatively en gaged with and removed from the pan-:W simplyr; by vertical movements of the device ,relative to the pan. In this connection, if desired "but not necessarily, the pan I4 may-be.zprovidedzntixtlrew inner side of its side wall with a strap I'I, affording a socket to accommodate the lower endof" the bracket plate portion I6, or to accommodate a tongue" Il projecting downwardly from said plate portion; thus to insure against 'anyundesirable' rockingor tilting movement of the bracket I3 relative to the pan I4 when said bracket is operatively applied to said pan.-

The unit' comprising the hot plate I 0, the electrical-heating element II and the grill IZ'may be pivotally mounted upon the bracket I3-inany suitable manner. For example, the bracket I3 mayghave rigid therewith at the upper, inner side thereof, a pair of lugs I8, and the hotplate I0 may have 'rigidtherewith atthe under side and near the edge thereof a pair of lugs-I9 connectedto the lugs- I8 by hinge or pivot pins 20. In any event, the pivotal or hinge connection between said unit and saidbracket is such that said unit may be swung between :horizontal and substantially vertical positionsrelative to said bracketand; of course, relative to the pan I4 when the device is operatively applied to said pan.

The hot plate II] may be of any desired shape asviewed in plan, and the pan I4 preferably is of the same shape, as viewed'in plan, as 'said hot plate; both being illustrated in the drawings-as being circular in shape,- which is preferred. In any event, when the hot plate is swung to its horizontal position it overlies the pan Land in this connection said hot plate is of somewhat smaller size than said pan so that when said hot plate is disposed horizontally there-isafiorded, between its periphery and the rim of said pan; a narrow space through which grease, and-the like ma drip from said plate into said pan.

The electrical heating element II may be 'of' any suitable form-and may be fastened to the hot plate III in any suitable manner. Likewisathe grill I2 may be of any suitable form and may-be mounted in an suitable manner'beneathsaid electrical heating element. In this connectionand as illustrated in'the present instance, the grill I 2 includes a supporting bar 2 I which is suitably-attached at one end, as by welding; to the hot plate I0 near the edge thereof, preferably adjacent to the pivotal connection of said plate with the bracket I3, and which extendsdownwardly or rearwardly from said plate-"at right angles thereto. Mounted-on this bar for -nonrotative movement with respect thereto but for sliding movement therealong, is a sleeve 22,'and extending at right angles to said sleeve from the side thereof nearer the heating element III, is a short pivot bar 23 which is suitablyswiveled to said sleeve for axial rotation with respect, thereto. The pivot bar 23 is provided with a T-head bar 24,,and upon said T-head bar aremounted for non-rotative movements with respect thereto,-bu-t for -sliding adjustments therealong, two sleeves 25,-.25, from opposite sides of eachof which extend other bars-26, 26 which arerigidwith said sleeve and which are disposed at right angles to the T-head bar 24 as well as at right angles to the axis of the short pivot bar 23. Each pair of the bars v26, 26 carries a seriesof small grilLrods or wiresil, which; extend from said barsvZB beneath or behind the ele'ctrical'heating element II. It will be apparent, therefore, that, by adjustment of the sleeves 25, 25 along the T-head bar 24, the twoiseri-es ofi-jigrill rods or wires are adjustable toward .and away from each other to accommodate therebetween articles of food such as steaks, breadlor .thewlihevof different thicknesses to be broiled or toasted; that by adjustment of the sleeve-'22 'along the supporting bar 2| an article of food disposed between the two sets of grill rods or.;wi:res maymbe moved towardland away from the heating element. to obtainiastoresldW broiling or. toastingv of the said I article-zofix'sfooda and. that by rotatingthe pivot bar; 23 irelative 'to thesleeve22',:the T-head bar 24. and the grill iIOdS or.-.-wires may berotated to dispose eithers'side of thearticler or; food. toward the heatinglele'z-t ment II.

If consideredlnecessary or. desirable; any suitable. means-may beeprovided .to secure the; sleeve. 22' many. desired position of adjustment along-the supporting :bar -2I.-: For. example-,tthesle'ever-22; may beprovidedwith-aset screwaZB enga eable. withthe supporting bar; ZI fQIiFthlS .ipurpose; Similar means :may b e: =provided=.;for I securing. :the, sleeves 25', 25indesiredpositions of adjustment along the -T-head :bar. 24101,- alt'ernatively,.-onei of the grill rod or wireelemen-tsmay beiprovi-de'd with aa latch 'elementgas indicated (at; 28ir-iforsen-r g-agement with 1 the other; of; :'said'. ,;elements:. for holding-them in embracing relationship :to an'sarx-zticle: of food disposed therebetween.

Obviously, the grill I 2 .z'mayzb'e .aused :when -:the device III isin either its-horizontalpositionas: shown in -F'ig.v .4 -or in: its: vertical; position: as shown -in:Fig-.; 5.: In ,anyJ-even-hlbecausecotzthe pivotal. connection --of; the .hot; ."platei-I 0 .Wl-th 11311.8 bracket I3, the .unitcomprisingrsaid hot: plate; the heating element I I and the grill-,I2,-;:is readily; swirrgablc; {between :horizontal. and tyerti'cal :posi-i tions to :fa'cilitatewuseof the device especial-lwfor broiling or toasting purposes; In thiszconnection,-. any suitable means. may- -be. provided toyhold the said-unit in upright position; For ex-ample, the bracket I3 may have pivoted thereto ra latch- .42 to beswung into engagement with :saidwunit" for thispurpose. Moreover-,the hotpla-te I 0 maybe provided at a point remote-from its. pivotal i cone nectiorr with'the bracket I3 with a tongueu29 :for engagement withwthe rim of -.-.the --pan.-.:l4. to ;as-: sist in,supporting'saidtunit in --its horizontal po-, sition, and said tongue may carry a suitable handle-2 9 for: 1186 in, raising and flowering the unitcomprising. said hot I .plate- I I], the' heating element I I. and thegrill I2.

Obviously; any suitable: provision may be made for supplying electric current-to the electrictheate ing element "I I. Preferably-,ahowever, the bracket I3 is provided wi-thsu-itable terminals-30 which are connected by wires 3| to the. .heating'element II and which are of a form to-have-detachably connected therewith one; end of an ordinary electricali extension cord (not shown) the other end of which may beconnected witheany ordinary electrical outletfixture, whereby thedevice may be used at various different locations,- In. this connection; to the end of-providing-:avneatycoma pact structure, the bracket-l3 "may car-ry,; rigid therewith and projecting outwardly" therefrom: a housing 32; in which may besuitab-ly men-nixed a terminal block 33 carrying the terminals from which the wires 31 may extend inwardly to the heating element ll through a suitable opening 34 in the plate 116, the rim of the pan l4 being notched as indicated at 34' if necessary to accommodate said wires.

The terminals 30 may be in the form of two or more blades for insertion into the usual slots of an ordinary electrical outlet fixture, and they preferably extend downwardly from the block 33 for insertion into an outlet fixture the slots of which open through the top thereof. In this connection, the invention contemplates provid ing an electric cooking stove S with a pair of ordinary electric outlet fixtures 35 and 36, one mounted in the stove top 3'! adjacent to the usual cooking well 38 of the stove and the other mounted on the usual rear panel 39 of the stove and both having their slots opening upwardly to receive the blades 39. The pan M is of a size to be freely lowered into the well 38 and the outlet 35 is located in such proximity to said well as to adapt its slots directly to receive the blades 30 when said pan l4, with the bracket l3 ope-ratively applied thereto, is lowered into said well. At the rim of the pan is a bead 49 to engage the stove top and thus support the pan in the well 38, and the arrangement in this respect is such that by first aligning the blades 36 with the slots in the outlet fixture 35 and by then lowering the pan I 4 until its bead 40 comes to rest upon the stove top, the said blades 30 become operatively engaged in the slots of said outlet fixture 35 and thereby connect the heating element i i with the source of current of the stove. The other outlet fixture 36 is located to have its slots engaged by the blades 36 when the pan I4 is resting upon the stove top. Thus, the present device may be used either in the well 38 or in a definite position upon the stove top without an extension cord to supply current to the same, and in either case it advantageously aifords, in effect, an extra burner for the stove as well as a broiler or toaster. Of course, by the use of an extension cord, it may be used in other positions upon the stove top or elsewhere.

If a stove is equipped with outlets such as the outlets 35, 36, it preferably is equipped also with related switches 4! for controlling flow of current through said outlet.

The pan l4 may be of any suitable depth, but preferably it is of a depth to extend approximately to the bottom of the well 38 so that it may be used as a cooking vessel to be heated by the usual electrical heating means at the bottom of said well, during the same time, if desired, that the unit mounted upon the top thereof is used for some other cooking or heating purpose.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings it is believed that the construction and operation of the present device will be clearly understood and its advantages appreciated. It is desired to point out, however, that while only a single, specific construction has been illustrated and described, the invention is readily capable of embodiment in various specifically different constructions within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical cooking device comprising an electrical heating element, and a grill mounted at one side thereof, said grill comprising a supporting bar mounted fixedly with respect to said heating element and extending at right angles thereto, a sleeve mounted non-rotatably on said bar for sliding movement therealong, a pivot bar extending at right angles to said sleeve and pivoted thereto for axial rotation, a T-head bar carried by said pivot bar, a pair of sleeves mounted non-rotatably on said T-head bar for sliding adiustments therealong toward and away from one another, bars carried by said pair of said sleeves and extending at right angles to said T-head bar and to the pivotal axis of said pivot bar, and food clamping grill elements carried by said last mentioned bars.

2. An electrical cooking device comprising a unit including an electrical heating element, a hot plate mounted fixedly with respect to said heating element at one side thereof, and food clamping means comprising a pair of grill elements mounted at the other side of said heating element for collective adjustments toward and away from said heating element and also for adjustments toward and away from each other and for collective rotation to dispose either grill element nearer said heating element, and a bracket to be secured to a support and upon which said unit is mounted for swinging movements between a horizontal position with the hot plate disposed uppermost and a substantially vertical position in which the food clamping means is readily accessible.

3. An electrical cooking device comprising an electrical heating element, a supporting bar fixed with respect to said heating element and extending at right angles thereto beyond one side thereof, a sleeve on said supporting bar slidably adjustable therealong, a T-bar including a leg disposed at right angles to said sleeve and rotatably connected thereto, said T-bar further including a pair of arms extending in opposite directions from and at right angles to said leg, and a pair of food clamping grill elements mounted on said arms for adjustments therealong toward and away from each other, said grill elements being collectively adjustable with said T-bar and said sleeve along said supporting bar toward and away from said heating element and being collectively rotatable with said T-bar relative to said sleeve to dispose either grill element nearer said heating element.

EDGAR J. GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 224,740 StaiTord 1 Feb. 17, 1 880 505,433 Boggs Sept. 26, 1893 949,764 Hammerstein Feb. 22, 1910 1,117,277 Supplee Nov. 17, 1914 1,149,590 Moe Aug. 10, 1915 1,222,669 Purnell Apr. 17, 1917 1,263,359 Armstrong Apr. 23, 1918 1,832,831 Ginder Nov. 17, 1931 1,952,763 Lux Mar. 27, 1934 2,234,596 Hellman Mar. 11, 1941 2,266,099 Uhlrig et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,313,968 Reich Mar. 16, 1943 2,371,975 Parsons Mar. 20, 1945 2,379,239 Krebs June 26, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,735 Great Britain 1908 

